Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

What are the best credit card sign-up deals for December 2018? – plus a news round-up

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

UPDATE – APRIL 2024:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.  We produce a monthly directory of the top UK travel credit card offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Credit Cards’ menu above.  Thank you.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

Keep up to date with the latest UK credit card bonuses by signing up for our free daily or weekly newsletters.

It is time for our regular round up of what is coming and what is going in the world of UK airline and hotel credit card sign-up deals.

Our directory of the 16 main UK travel credit and charge cards can be found by clicking the ‘Credit Cards’ tab at the top of the site or – for email, Flipboard, Apple News or mobile readers – by clicking here.

What was new in November?

Flybe announced the final closure date for its cards

Last Friday, holders of the Flybe credit card received an email from issuer Creation saying that the cards will close for good on 11th March 2019.

You will have until 20th September to spend your remaining Spend&Fly points.  Depending on how customers used their account, they are being offered a card with either 0.5% cashback or a ‘no rewards’ card as a replacement.

The Flybe credit card was closed to new applicants a few weeks ago.  I’m not sure why it lasted so long – Flybe switched its core loyalty scheme to Avios a few years ago, so keeping open a credit card which earned a different loyalty currency, Spend&Fly, made little sense.

I don’t think Flybe has any plans to replace the card at present, although obviously that could change if the airline does change ownership as a result of the current informal auction process.

The Tesco Premium credit card restructured – and got better

The Tesco Premium credit card has announced a big shake-up of its benefits.  With Tesco Direct and Tesco Wine now closed, it seems that the old benefits package threshold – which required £5000 of Tesco spending annually to maximise your returns – was seen as too high.

Tesco Premium is reducing its annual fee from £150 to £36, but dropping the travel insurance benefits.  You will now only need to spend £2500 per year in Tesco to earn the annual bonus, which is reduced to 2500 Clubcard points.

It isn’t yet clear if the card will be reopened to new applicants.  If it is, it won’t be until at least February when the new benefits package kicks in.

You can learn more about the changes on the Tesco Bank website here and in our article here.

Curve relaunched with American Express functionality

Curve Card has now launched its Beta programme with American Express.  This is only open to selected Curve members.

It is a slightly fiddly system which we outline in this article here.  It will be an exciting prospect when the bugs are ironed out and it is open to all, allowing you to recharge Visa and Mastercard debit and credit transactions onto a linked Amex card.

You can find out more about Curve Card here.  The card is free and they will pay you £5 for taking it out if you use my referral link.  You can apply here.

Curve Card accepts American Express

There is still no word on the relaunch of the Marriott Mastercard

Creation is meant to be running this, as they ran the old version which was closed to new cardholders two years ago.  It was due to launch in August but nothing has happened.

Don’t ask me about any replacement Hilton Honors UK credit card either ……

Virgin Atlantic launches sharply increased credit card bonuses – which end on Friday

Full details are below, but don’t forget that you only have six days to apply for the new Virgin Atlantic credit cards with the higher sign-up bonus.  Full details are on their website here.

The free card earns you 10,000 miles (usually 5,000 miles) whilst the paid card comes with 25,000 miles (usually 15,000 miles)

Virgin Atlantic credit card higher bonus

American Express relaunched Shop Small for 2018

Until 16th December, you can earn £5 cashback each time you spend £10 at a participating ‘Shop Small’ retailer.  You need to opt-in via the Offers tab on your Amex statement page.

Ignore the Amex map of participating outlets.  In reality, most independent shops and restaurants which take Amex will trigger the deal – it worked for us at restaurants twice in the last week.  Full details are in our article here.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios card

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 12th May 2024, the Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa card is offering a bonus of 30,000 points, convertible into 30,000 Avios. You must have a Limited Company to apply. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

Huge 30,000 points bonus until 12th May 2024 Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Category

General

Comments (67)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • TripRep says:
    9 Dec9 December 06:04

    LMAO 🙂

    “Don’t ask me about any replacement Hilton Honors UK credit card either”

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:
      9 Dec9 December 08:06

      In fairness, even though that was in the article I’m still tempted. It’s the only card I want long term.

    • RussellH says:
      9 Dec9 December 10:30

      For two weeks now I have been trying to get an answer out of Barclaycard as to when I get upgraded to Hilton Gold, having spent £10 000.00+ during the course of 2018.
      Initially they said I had not spent as much as that, I responded with figures and asked them to point out my mistake. No reply, beyond that “it was being referred to the appropriate dept. for an answer”.
      When I prompted them I got an answer to a totally different question, and when I pointed this out they gave me the same irrelevant answer.

      Yesterday I asked the question again, this time quoting my spend figures, and asking for a reply by 1700 tomorrow (Monday). My query “is being referred to the appropriate dept. for an answer”.

      Is it that difficult for their systems to see if I have spent the required amounT/

      A week ago I tried phoning them instead – the young man who answered had no idea what I was talking about.
      I would be grateful for any tips!
      Thanks.

      • John says:
        9 Dec9 December 12:52

        Turn it into a complaint and you’ll get £25

        • RussellH says:
          10 Dec10 December 16:17

          That is what I shall be doing in 45 mins iof they do not respond by my deadline, 1700 today. No reply yet,

        • RussellH says:
          10 Dec10 December 17:30

          I have now registered a formal complaint. I am not hopeful of getting £25 though!

          A couple of years ago they were paying me rather more than that on a fairly frequent basis, including the time when they failed to pay double IHG points on the local taxes charged by the IC in Porto (ie pre Creation running the IHG card, but after the operation of Barclays IHG card was merged into Barclaycard).

          It would be nice just to get my question answered!!

        • RussellH says:
          11 Dec11 December 11:29

          I got an answer to the complaint this morning. Just £15 compo and a message that I shall become ‘eligible’ for Gold when the a/c bills in ten days time.

          I have pointed out that that does not tally with the statement on their website, which specifically mentions the word ‘spend’, and that still no date for my Gold membership has been given!

    • John says:
      9 Dec9 December 13:07

      Barclays increased my HH credit limit today, unprompted and I don’t spend anywhere near it (in fact main use is for Curve cash wd, and until amex started working, tax), doubt they would do this if the card is closing soon??

      • Alan says:
        9 Dec9 December 13:14

        Could be an automated process? Hope it’s not going anytime soon although miss the churn possibilities with this card – just spent my last voucher a few weeks ago in Nashville for a room that was going for $600/night!

        • tom1 says:
          9 Dec9 December 16:49

          What churn possibilities are there with this card, Alan? Are you talking about the free night?
          I thought it was a once in a lifetime offer.

        • Mr(s) Entitled says:
          9 Dec9 December 22:20

          Nashville is a fun town. Good use of a voucher and your time.

  • avidsaver says:
    9 Dec9 December 08:13

    I currently hold the free IHG Rewards Club Mastercard. Will Creation allow you to apply for/upgrade to the Rewards + card and receive the 20,000 points bonus? If so, do you just apply online for the Rewards + card and they will automatically cancel the free card or do you need to ring them to sort it? Many thanks.

    • Mark2 says:
      9 Dec9 December 08:38

      My wife and I have each applied for the black card while holding the white; got the sign up bonus and then cancelled the white.

      • Matt says:
        9 Dec9 December 08:46

        Yes, two different products so you would need to cancel the white card yourself once you have received your black card and sign up bonus.

      • avidsaver says:
        9 Dec9 December 08:47

        Many thanks Mark2 very helpful to know.

    • EwanG says:
      9 Dec9 December 08:47

      Creation treat the Rewards Club and Rewards Club Premium CCs separately so if you hold one and apply for the other then you will hold two (assuming you are accepted). Many on here have held 2 concurrently (myself included). You will get whatever bonus is on offer for the second card i.e. holding one card does not stop you getting a bonus on the new application.
      Call Creation if you subsequently wish to cancel your first account.
      You will need separate logins for each card account if you want to use the online service.

    • Mark2 says:
      9 Dec9 December 09:15

      You can keep both cards, but remember that you get more points per £ on black and a free night if you spend £10,000 so best to cancel white.

    • Doug M says:
      9 Dec9 December 09:48

      I got both, and both sign up bonuses. Had high credit limit with original white, and low with black. Reduced white credit limit by £10K hoping to add £5K to black, but computer said no, separate accounts so probably not linked. Use the black a fair bit, no intention of using white, but kept as I may cancel black once year up and voucher received, occasional use of white would then keep IHG points alive so not one to cancel unless you’re concerned about credit status.
      If I remember correctly with the black you wait the year to receive the voucher, then cancel without using the card to get the second year fee refunded.

  • Tom1 says:
    9 Dec9 December 08:53

    O/t Lloyds
    I’m a little confused whether or not the upgrade vouchers have come to an end.

    I have earned the voucher this year, and didn’t get any of the ‘error’ vouchers a few months ago.

    From what I know I haven’t had any communication to say that the upgrade vouchers are no-more, and my year starts again in February. I did receive some new t&cs but that didn’t mention rewards changing.

    Is it possible that I can still earn another voucher if I spend £7k after February?

    • Doug M says:
      9 Dec9 December 09:28

      As things stand if you haven’t heard from Lloyds nothing has changed. I didn’t get a freebie error voucher either, but I did recently get the normal £7K spent one, and i’m still getting no FX fee non sterling spend.

    • John says:
      9 Dec9 December 12:54

      You should get another voucher as long as your card remains open and they have to give 2 months(?) notice. Also you’ll have the £24 fee charged in Feb

      • tom1 says:
        9 Dec9 December 16:51

        ok, so wait for the £24 charge, and if that happens, spend quickly to hit £7k? thanks, will try that.

        • Mikeact says:
          9 Dec9 December 21:25

          I’m up to another one….that’s three that need to be now sorted. And definitely no FX fees applied, why would there be ?

  • Andy S says:
    9 Dec9 December 09:17

    Slightly OT – I have a clubcard credit card which I no longer want. Is it possible to cancel the card and still keep the clubcard account? How would I go about doing this ?

    • Louise says:
      9 Dec9 December 10:02

      They can merge it with a normal Clubcard account if you have one? Or you used to be able to create one online ….

    • JPa says:
      9 Dec9 December 21:27

      It still works as a clubcard even when the credit card part is gone. It is a different number but should be linked to your normal account.

  • Liz says:
    9 Dec9 December 09:17

    Been putting off applying for the free Virgin card for ages and finally did it this morning. Would have preferred it in hubby’s name but he didn’t get the bonus offer. With very low income from savings only in my name and hubby’s pension I managed to get accepted straight away with a £2700 credit limit. Works for us so very happy! 😀

    • FlywithPoints says:
      9 Dec9 December 16:48

      How many credit cards do you hold at present Liz?
      I was under the impression that they were funny about too much credit and declined lots of people?

      • Liz says:
        9 Dec9 December 17:02

        The credit card pendulum has swung my way at the moment in our house. I have BAPP £1500 limit, Plat, SPG £1300 limit, IHG £9500 (the card I keep long term), MBNA Horizon £3700 (don’t use this one but kept it anyway). Will be cancelling Plat after Small Shop and SPG not long in to the new year. We no longer have a mortgage but have decent income from pension and savings. Didn’t expect to get accepted. Never had so many cards. Will keep this one long term. We do churn the BAPP, Plat and SPG between each other. Hubby has SPG, Hilton, Tesco, Lloyd’s. Gee that’s a lot when you list them but we don’t use them all. His SPG will be cancelled after SS and other 3 not currently in use.

      • Michael Jennings says:
        9 Dec9 December 17:20

        FlywithPoints: I have quite a few credit cards and quite a bit already – although without much charged to them – and the Virgin Money eligibility checker tells me I am not eligible – so I haven’t bothered applying, even though I have been bombarded with ads trying to get me to for the last nine months or so, due to having previously had an MBNA Virgin card.

    • Concerto says:
      9 Dec9 December 16:51

      Was that an online application with instant approval? Wonder if it will work from a non U.K. IP address.

      • Liz says:
        9 Dec9 December 17:02

        Yes – did it from the link from the bonus email.

      • tom1 says:
        9 Dec9 December 17:19

        I applied today and it says needs to be approved – so not instant for me.
        Just hope I don’t end up missing the bonus if it takes a while to approve, or reject/appeal.

  • Mark2 says:
    9 Dec9 December 09:33

    OT
    If I cancel my wife’s supplementary on my Platinum Amex card, will I be able to get a supplementary card for my nephew without charge. I shall not give him the card, but it will extend his Hilton Gold status.

  • Steve says:
    9 Dec9 December 10:32

    @Rob VA card, “There is no spending target to hit to receive the sign-up bonus” this might create confusion if not broken out into sign up and spend bonus

  • Liz says:
    9 Dec9 December 11:51

    Yes hubby’s SPG not generating emails but my new SPG Card is. Credits from spend on 4/12 have credited though – so far so good.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? SPECIAL OFFER TO 12TH MAY EARN POINTS WORTH 30,000 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!